Van Persie game-changer
ARSENE WENGER has admitted that he suspected Manchester United would run away with the English Premier League title the moment that he agreed to sell them Robin van Persie.
United are seven points clear of Manchester City, their nearest challengers, whom Wenger believes need to beat Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium tonight ( NZ time) to stay in contention to win the league.
Roberto Mancini conceded a fortnight ago that he feared his failure to sign Van Persie last summer could cost City the title, and Wenger agrees.
The Holland striker has scored 20 goals in 26 appearances for United, who beat City to his £24 million ($46m) signature after the personal intervention of Sir Alex Ferguson.
‘‘What is painful is to see Man United so far in front of us,’’ said Wenger, whose team are 18 points behind the leaders, albeit with a game in hand.
‘‘You know when you sell Van Persie to United, that will be the case. He is one of the best strikers in the world and you know he will score goals for them. He got 30 for us in the league last year.
‘‘ Robin would have done the same thing for Man City. He is at his peak, 29 going on 30. He has gone through difficult moments in his career, and he knows his game. He uses all his qualities in a calm and intelligent way.’’
Wenger paid Feyenoord only £2.75m ($5.3m) for a talented if wayward youngster nine years ago and, after standing by him through several injury- ravaged seasons, rues that United are likely to benefit from Van Persie’s best years.
The Frenchman revealed for the first time that Ferguson called him several times last summer to force through the transfer, Arsenal eventually conceding that they could not keep a player who had only 12 months left on his contract. ‘‘It was a very professional phone call, and there was more than one,’’ Wenger said. ‘‘I will tell you the rest another day.
‘‘Robin has a high level of confidence in his qualities. He knows his game well. He knows how to
Arsenal manager exploit his qualities and he is more patient than he was five or six years ago.
‘‘ Now he stays up front, and maybe you won’t see him for 20 minutes. But he knows he will get a chance and use it.
‘‘Before, he used to come
back into midfield, but he uses his killer instinct much better now.’’
Ferguson is monitoring Theo Walcott’s contract talks with a view to mounting another raid on Arsenal, but Wenger is increasingly confident that the England forward will sign a new deal this month. Arsenal have had constructive discussions with Walcott’s representatives over a new four-year contract worth £90,000 a week last week and expect him to sign it sooner rather than later.
Wenger has been pleased with how Walcott has performed during the contract stand-off, but believes that he has more to offer.
‘‘ If you compare Theo from today with three years ago, he is a different animal,’’ Wenger said. ‘‘Today he finishes in a calm way and very accurately, but he can improve. He’s 23 years old; that’s when usually players start their career. For a striker, he’s coming into the best age now.’’